Critic Reviews

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100

1UP

This is a game that is filled with a simple yet endearing story, excellent game mechanics, eye-popping visuals, a challenging collection element, and a surprisingly bittersweet ending that will make you want to play it all over again, especially to see the once-static cinematics recreated in full 3D. Klonoa is one of the best platforming games of all time and this is a superior remake of an already flawless original. Get this game now, keep it in your collection, and enjoy it for years to come.

Don't be fooled into thinking that this is just a creaky update of an old classic, because this version of Klonoa is an essential update that mixes brand new visuals with some of the best level design ever. Quite simply unmissable.

85

411mania.com

This remake is a wonderful addition to the Wii library. I'm very glad Namco Bandai decided to bring back this classic and not just port it to the system. The fact that they took the time to add 3D graphics, voice work, redo the audio, and make the controls simple should be commended. I'm also glad they left the rest of the game intact for the series and platforming veterans out there. If you've never played a Klonoa game, or only got your hands on the GBA titles this is certainly with the time. However, unless you really enjoy platforming or the game, even for 30 bucks, the shortness of the title may only warrant a rental. Regardless, it doesn't change the fact that this is a great title and I hope it is well received so we can get a new Klonoa title on the Wii at some point.

Despite these inconsistencies, this Door to Phantamile remake is important for a few reasons. First, it’s proof that the great games of generations gone by can still shine in this era of online first-person shooter fragfests and harpy-dismembering action-spectacles, especially when companies like Namco are willing to throw on a fresh coat of graphical polish and not just offer up the original code for download. Secondly, Klonoa shows that not all Wii third-party games are trashy, low budget remote-waggle-fests – stinkers that exist only to sucker clueless moms into shelling out twenty dollars for the game industry equivalent of a straight-to-DVD Pauly Shore flick. If you like action/platformers – get this game. If you’re looking for a bite-sized bit of gaming goodness to tide you over till the upcoming releases of Metroid: Another M and Super Mario Galaxy 2 – get this game. Basically – get this game. You won’t be sorry.

Klonoa is a remake of the original, and it follows the template brick for brick, but for newcomers to the series it’s a must-play entry into the world of platformers. For returning fans, there’s still a nice bit of nostalgia to it all as well. I got a kick out of the original 12 years ago, and it’s been great coming back to the series. The visuals look crisp, though there’s better on Wii in the form of titles like Galaxy and Nintendo’s own Wario platformer, but it runs at 60 frames a second, and the core gameplay more than justifies the franchise’s reentry into the gaming world. It’s well worth the $30, and a great platformer with plenty of difficulty ramp-up to appeal to everyone. Welcome back Klonoa. Hopefully you get to kick your feet up and stay for a while…

The best part about this new remake of Klonoa is that it's going for the discounted price of $29.99. Considering the game won't take you an especially long time to finish, that's a great price for a classic platformer that still has some appeal for modern players while also being charming enough for younger kids to get into, as well.

Despite being too short and easy for its own good, Klonoa is still a well-made, exciting platformer. The level design is quite impressive, seamlessly integrating 2D action in a 3D world, and the various views and branching paths create a novel experience. Tossing your hapless foes into other enemies or background switches is a fun mechanic that opens the door for some clever puzzles in the later levels. The visuals bring everything together, breathing life into this world overrun by an unknown evil. Klonoa is over before you know it, but it's darn fun while it lasts.

Klonoa is one of the best platforming games on the Wii. For a game that is over a decade old, it is a testament that it can hold its own versus all the new ideas and fancy advances in gaming. It is a shame that the difficulty is set so easy and there isn't much game to play. Your time spent with Klonoa is well worth the experience, even if it is all too brief.